Wild Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

Titan was out to defeat her, not win her.
    She made her way to school, determined to keep her attention on her students. Matthew came running up to her, then spun in a slow circle. She took in the new shirt and overalls, the self-conscious but proud smile.
    â€œDon’t you look especially handsome this morning,” she told the eight-year-old.
    â€œMy mom got a new sewing machine,” he said proudly. “She’s been workin’ day ’n night to make these for me.”
    An impressive amount of work finished in a relatively short period of time, Alethea thought. “I hope you thanked her.”
    â€œYes, ma’am, I did. She’s gonna take in sewing work now.”
    â€œExcellent.” She knew that Matthew’s mother, a widow, had been getting by on very little income. Although now that she thought about it…“A sewing machine is very expensive,” she said, more to herself than the boy. “She must have been saving for a long time.”
    Matthew grinned. “Uncle Zeke bought it for her. It came in on the last wagon, just like him. He comes to our house a lot.”
    Matthew saw one of his friends and ran off. Alethea stared after him. Uncle Zeke? As she had not heard that Zeke had any family left in the area, she had to assume the title was honorary. But what, exactly, had Mr. Titan done to earn it?
    Later that morning, she had to separate two girls who simply wouldn’t stop talking. She quickly discovered that they, too, had new clothes. Dresses this time, all the way from Boston. Compliments of Uncle Zeke.
    Alethea ignored the churning in her midsection as she gave the children their reading assignment for the morning. When she walked between the desks and helped her students with difficult words, she couldn’t help searching for similarities between Matthew’s brown hair and eyes and the girls’. Given Zeke’s reputation with women, she shouldn’t be surprised that he’d fathered children. Apparently the good people of Titanville were willing to embrace the results of his indiscretions. Very forward thinking of them, if slightly shocking.
    At lunch, she passed out the buckets her students had brought from home. They ran outside to eat while she stayed in, still thinking about the fact that Zeke may have fathered children without the benefit of marriage. She heard heavy footsteps and looked up to see the man in question entering the schoolhouse. He smiled at her.
    â€œIt’s a fine day,” Zeke told her. “I brought a picnic for us to share.”
    As he spoke, he held up a basket. It was large, and a brightly colored cloth spilled from one side.
    She eyed his offering, then turned her attention to him. “You must find your circumstances very pleasant. This town where you are adored. The rules of society that don’t apply to you or your situation. The rights of a husband but none of the responsibilities.”
    She wasn’t angry, she thought as she looked at him. She was disappointed. She’d expected more. No. That wasn’t right. She’d hoped for more, but she had been let down. Zeke wasn’t special. He was a charming shell of a man.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” he asked, looking genuinely confused.
    â€œYou have created your own kingdom,” she said, coming to her feet. “You seem to be all that is good in a man, but that is a facade. You may not hit women or speak ill of them, but you abuse their bodies and their characters all the same.”
    The humor and anticipation faded from his dark eyes. “You assume a great deal.”
    â€œI see Matthew in new clothes sewn on a machine you provided. The girls in their new dresses, compliments of their uncle. Yet you are not a relation to their mothers. Not in the traditional sense.”
    Zeke’s mouth tightened. “You speak of my failings, yet you’re the one assuming the worst without knowing the true